Jennifer Siebel Newsom, First Partner, State of California 
Interviewer: Michal Lev-Ram, FORTUNE

Most Powerful Women 2022 - Securing The Future Of Women’s Leadership

Securing The Future Of Women’s Leadership

According to the World Economic Forum's 2022 global gender gap index at the current rate of progress, it will take 132 years for women to reach full gender parity. It's a pretty astounding stats, but one that may not surprise many of you or our next guest, Jennifer. Siebel Newsom, is a thought leader in vocal advocate for change in society's limited gender norms and stereotypes. She's also a filmmaker who wrote, produced and directed three documentaries on the subject. Additionally, she is the co founder of the California Partners Project, a nonprofit focused on supporting women's representation on board. And as she probably knows, she's the first partner of California. We are honored to have her with us today to talk about her work on progressing gender equity. Please welcome her to the stage along with Michael. Thank you, Baby. Welcome jennifer, thank you for joining us. So we had Katie Porter on stage. You just saw her. I'm sorry that you both know each other. Um but you know, we we talked with her, we also we had Liz Cheney an interview with Cheney yesterday. Um, and I've been talking about some some of the toxicity in our national politics. And so I'm curious to hear just from your perspective, um what is is there a solution to that? And if so, what how do we move beyond it? So I mean we have to focus in on our common humanity and we do have a shared humanity right that um, is expansive. And we're sort of talking in the fringes right right now, we have to come together and focusing on our common humanity, but we also have to hold the individuals and the media platforms and the tech platforms accountable for misinformation and divisiveness, um, all with the larger intent of um padding their pocketbooks. And and it's, you know, we've come to this point in time where if people are have different facts. Um, I my parents or my father is a Republican, he's not a Trumper, but he is a republican. And so oftentimes we have to have conversations that kind of like slow him down and help them understand that the information that he's being fed through Fox news and all all this sort of far right platforms is not the truth. Um, and at the same time, I think we need more women in leadership, more women of color, more progressive women of color and mothers because I think we then will bring a we've been excluded from the tables of power for far too long and then we will bring our unique perspectives, our values um, to the table that ultimately are about, you know, there's this a relational um tendency that we've been nurtured into, that's been part of our socialization that is really more about like finding common ground and making about the future and Children and so I think again, it's sort of that threefold answer of focusing in on our common humanity, getting more women into leadership, especially mothers and women of color. And then obviously, you know, we've got to call out those who are profiting off of dividing us. Well, I would love to listen in on some of your family dinner conversations. I'm sure they're fascinating. Um I wanna talk about California more specifically and and where you've chosen to focus your work um here. Um can you talk a little bit about what you've done to advance women and people of color on boards and sort of what the status is? I know there was a bill that passed and has since been overturned to mandate some of the increased diversity on boards. Um What was accomplished and what's the status now? Great, well, broadly speaking, my focus has always been gender equity and child well being and that those are my priorities um in the administration, but one of the the initiatives that we've taken on isn't sure is SB-826 and making sure that this bill was implemented in a way that benefited women and represented California women. Um and SB 8, 26 what we found, So in 2018, when the first, when SB 8 26 was first signed, what we found was that 15 point point 5% of public company boards had 15.5% of the seats on public company boards were held by women today as a result of not just the law, but our cultural work To shift hearts and minds, attitudes and behaviors. We have 33% of public company board seats are held by women. So that's remarkable? Um simultaneously, it's also important to note that in 2018 30% of public company boards in California were all male boards. Because of this law. Now, only 1% of public company boards are all male boards, so that's tremendous. Um we still have work to do. Latinos represent 20% of the California population and are less than 2% of public company board seats. So that's something that is of note that we're working very intentionally on. Um and you know, again, the law was challenged in May of 2022. Another judge gave the law stay in September of this year, but regardless people have moved in the direction of recognizing the value of women's leadership. We know you all know this women whether it's in the C suite or the public company or a public or private board. What we know is that women hone in more on E. S. G. Right, so they have better environmental practices, family friendly and governance, which reduces risk. So broadly speaking, it's a win win when you have women on in leadership in companies. And so I think that narrative in that story is pretty clear now and most people are brought into it with the exception of a few. Uh but I'm really proud of, you know, the work that we've we've done in partnership with the legislature and through also the California partners project. So do you consider it a win? Generally speaking, regardless of what happens legally? Yeah. And I consider it a win. It's, you know, there are so many benefits to women in leadership and you all know that and that's why you're here. Are you, are you talking to other states by the way? Um, on similar, I know, California is not the only one, but similar initiatives. Yes. So there are a handful of other states that are doing or following suit or have done similar things. Um, and that's what's so great California where the fifth largest economy, soon to be the fourth largest economy and I'm just really proud of our um, leadership And you know, as California goes so I can go to the country and again, there are other states that are, are doing their part, but it's it's important for us to lead in California on these issues. Okay. Another question California specific, um, on reproductive rights. Um, California recently unveiled a $125 million reproductive health package and has the state has positioned itself um, as a, as a safe haven for women, um, from states where abortion has been banned, what can you share with us about what California is trying to do here and how it's Differentiated. So actually California has invested over $200 million dollars in reproductive health. There must have been some some more dollars since I last, um, so what what's important to know is that California is actually a pro life state where pro the entire life of a human being. And we invest we have universal uh T. K. We have universal school meals, free breakfast and lunch for all California kids. And one of my big in issues initiatives is farm to school, making sure that food is fresh, nutritious, delicious and locally sourced and on the scale towards regenerative if not already organic food. Um we you know, have huge literacy initiatives, were getting more nurses and mental health professionals into schools. Um we are pro LGBTQ rights, pro gun safety, have some of the strongest gun laws in the nation, some of the strongest equal pay laws in the nation. And again some of the strongest climate and environmental policy. So we are pro the entire life, the whole life of a human being, not just um at conception and and that's important to know right? Because we're seeing states across the country rolling back women's rights and basically um seeing women as second class citizens as less than as others as objects as to be controlled by the state legislatures and their governors. And it's very, very dangerous as we saw with the rollback of Roe V wade and the Dobbs decision earlier this year. Um so California again is the fifth largest economy and as a leader, you know, we have the largest population, let's not in the country. And the most diverse population, It's, we have to demonstrate leadership and that's what this is about. So part of our reproductive health care packages, making sure that we don't criminalize women for miscarriages on top of abortions, that we don't criminalize providers who are actually trying to protect women whether in state or out of state. So that there's a lot we're doing to basically show the world that we value women. We see women, we hear women and we're with them. And if they can't get care in their state, they're safe in California. Um, I think one thing that people do tend to agree on is that we all want our kids to be happy and healthy. It doesn't matter which side of the aisle you're, you are right. Um, and and some of your work is focused on this as well. Um, and the impact that media and tech that technology has on kids. Um, can you share a little bit about, um, some of the work you've done on social media anxiety disorder and what exactly what you're doing on this front, given your position? So I'm the mom of four young kids. My youngest is six have a nine year old, 11 year old and just turned 13 year old. And so this is very real and raw as it is for those of you who went through the past few years with your kids, maybe for the first time like mine being exposed to media and technology in ways they've never been exposed to before. Uh prior to the pandemic, we had a burgeoning mental health crisis right decade, a decade before with the advent of technology in the iphone, remember the supercomputer in the palm of your hand that was willing really just being given to kids. Um, as a way to stay in connection with their parents or as a gift, you know, um that mental health, you know, increases in depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, that was already happening. The pandemic obviously, you know, just pulled the curtain back on that and just it was boom, especially, you know, with what we've seen is anxiety skyrocketing, suicidal ideation and realization and um depression and you know, just it's been horrible. And and with girls in particular, L G B T Q youth girls of color, it's, you know, the numbers are extraordinary and very depressing. And so we've been, I did a listening tour during the pandemic and both in zoom and in person. And we found obviously that the burden right of all the care work of caring for Children is, you know, been on mom's shoulders predominantly. And so we've just tried to provide as much sort of education and support through my organization, California Partners project and through the first partners office to just put power back in parents hands and give them the tools and resources, but we know that we can't do it on our own. And so I'm so grateful because we through California partners project and um partnered with Buffy Wicks and the, and model new legislation privacy online privacy legislation for Children basically to protect them against, you know, the real addiction that and obviously all the privacy concerns um, and in a bill that was modeled after a U. K. Bill and so I'm really proud of where we are right now, it's just the first step but with this new legislation there changing the age of Children to 18, which should have been anyway for tech companies holding them accountable for also, you know, respecting the privacy and not collecting data that they then use against, that they can then use to exploit Children or harm them in ways um that for example, if a young kid is looking at something related to diets online, the tech company can no longer than just show them pictures of women in sexy women in bathing suits, right? Because that then can lead to more dangerous, um, self, you know, self harm etcetera. So here we are, you know, the reality is that Children do have these devices, but we're trying to slowly wake the companies up to the fact that they can't profit off of exploiting our kids any longer and I'm just, I'm proud of this. There's a lot more work to do and we're committed to, it definitely a lot more work to do. Um I want to just take a moment here um and address real quick um what some of us at least have read in the news this week that you're going to be testifying against Harvey Weinstein in the second trial here in in Los Angeles. Um I understand of course that it's an incredibly difficult time for you. Um you've asked for privacy and you also can't comment on anything because it's an upcoming trial. So I want to respect that. Um but I also want to ask you our theme this year is realizing your power. A lot of the conversations have centered around that and I want to know what is realizing your power means for you. I think I first discovered my power when I made my documentary misrepresentation. Um we premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and sold to Oprah Winfrey Network in 2011. I remember standing in the audience at Sundance up to standing room only sold out audiences. Uh and a friend of a friend in the audience said, so what did you discover making this film? And I said, I found my voice and I hear I was, you know, I was I just had my first child, I was pregnant with my second and I sort of welled up and I was like, oh my God, I have my voice. Um and that's so realizing your power is discovering your voice. And one of the reasons I gave myself the title First Partner and obviously with the administration, my husband's, you know, agreement and support that. That was kind of cool instead of first lady is because really if you if you those of you who've gotten to know first ladies or politicians, there's always someone behind the scenes who's allowing that person to do their job, who's taking care of everything so that they can be the best version of themselves in the public world. And that also is there thought partner that's the person that they, you know, the last person I talked to at night and the first person I talked to in the morning and that role has been rendered invisible just like we render invisible women's work in our society, right? All of the care work in the domestic work that we all do. Um, so first partner to me, yes, it was about the fact that we have an L G B T. Q. Governor will have a female governor someday in California. But it was also about partnership, the invisible work that women shoulder and outing that right? And then also just signaling to the world like this is about partnership. The only way we're gonna solve these tremendous problems that we have, especially in California where the richest and the poorest country in the nation where the most populous. Again we're the fifth largest, almost fourth largest economy is through partnerships. So I wanted to signal that not just to the administration, not just the cabinet and all the agencies. Uh, but to the private sector and to the nonprofit and, and you know, CBOs and what have you to show that we're gonna get through this, we'll get through it together and we're going to do it in partnership. So you've, you've had uh, other opportunities to find your voice and misrepresentation. Fair play came out earlier this summer. What's, what's next for you? So, well, I do recommend you all watch fair play if you haven't and watch it with your partner. Um, it's an important film that I think is funny too. It's not some of my films are kind of heavy and it's really funny and it will move you and it will move your partner at home. Um, if you have one. And if not, it will help you recognize, um, what to look for, what's good and all the, all the ways that we can sort of address this invisible work that again we have historically shouldered. But what's next? I'm gonna make misrepresentation to and kind of dive deeper and dig deeper into the impacts of social media and our young girls. Um, and I am going to do a film connecting to the environment and the feminine and care. And I have actually a slate of films that I want to make. But uh, you know, it's, I've got, there's a lot going on. There's a lot going on in California and it's, it's fun. It's invigorating. And I'm just trying to do my part and moving the needle forward and leaving our world in a better place than we found it. Well, jennifer, thank you so much for coming and joining us and sharing your voice with us today. Thank you. Thanks for having you. Thank you.